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AgNavigator News
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Tilda has expanded its sustainable basmati rice programme to nearly 4,000 farms in northern India, covering 15,000 hectares, with the aim of reducing methane emissions, water use, and fertiliser inputs through techniques such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and integrated pest management. The programme has achieved a 45% reduction in methane emissions, a 36% drop in overall CO₂-equivalent emissions, 20% less fertiliser use, and 37 billion litres of water saved, while also increasing yields and farmer profitability. Technical support, financial incentives, and market-linked premium payments have driven farmer participation, and research partnerships are exploring further innovations, such as microbial biofertilisers and direct-seeded rice. Tilda’s immediate focus is on scaling the programme to its full basmati supply chain, aiming for a 50% emissions reduction by 2030
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Creating a sustainable agirfood system requires collaboration across the supply chain — from the rural farmer all the way up to largest CPG companies
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At the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London, industry leaders emphasized that while agtech now offers advanced solutions like gene editing, biologicals, and AI, the sector’s main challenge is deploying these technologies on farms through effective regulation, finance, and distribution. The UK’s regulatory flexibility on gene editing and the need for science-based rules for biologicals were highlighted as key issues, while major agribusinesses increasingly look outside their own R&D for innovation. The summit stressed that successful technologies must fit farmers’ needs and operations, with distribution and integration seen as more critical than novelty. Ultimately, the sector faces a deployment challenge: ensuring the financial and regulatory support necessary for farmers to adopt new technologies without bearing the full cost and risk.
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Farmer balance sheets are receiving a shot in the arm due to higher commodity prices, providing some relief in purchasing inputs for 2027, though margins remain tight.
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Tesco has invested £20 million as the anchor backer of Henry Dimbleby’s Bramble Fund, which aims to support startups making the food system healthier, more sustainable, and more affordable. The partnership provides not only funding but also opportunities for innovation testing within Tesco’s supply chain, reflecting the retailer’s broader strategy to view health-focused food as a commercial opportunity. However, the initiative faces challenges in convincing mainstream consumers to pay more for healthier options amid a widening price gap between healthy and less healthy foods and ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
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